Mining machine



Sept. 11, 1923.

- .1. M. LONDON MINING MACHINE 1916 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 7.

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HAK64 Sept. 11, 1923..

J. M. LONDON MINING MA/CHINB Original Filed ,Dec. '7. 1916 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .26 5 A A 9 0. 9% @w Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

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JACOB M. LONDON, 0F TUNNEIJTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE JEFFREY IVIANUFAGTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

MINING MACHINE.

Application Med December 7,.1916', Serial No. 135,664. Renewed January 15, 1921. Serial No. 437,631.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jason M. LONDON, a citizen of the United States, residing atTunnelton, in the county of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates tonnining machines.

It has among its objects to facilitate the sumping or starting out of such a machine, and to reduce the power required during the sumping operation. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved supplemental frame adapted for use in sumping and in the cut across the face which is automatically movable and adapted to be auto matically maintained in place. A still further object of my invention is to provide improved and simplified means whereby the cutter bar is maintained in the desired tilted position relative to the floor during the transverse cut of the machine, without the necessity for providing or handling a separate shoe such as heretofore has been placed under the rear of the machine in order to give this tilting effect. These and other objects of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, I ha ve, for purposes of illustratiomgshown one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, illustrating the samein connection with a mining machine of the continuous cutter type.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in section of a mining machine equipped with my improvement, the machine and its supp-lemental frame or pan being shown in a plurality of positions.

Fig. 2 is a perspective vlew of'the supple mental frame. 7

Fig. 3 is a rear View of the supplemental frame with the machine thereon.

Fig. 4: is a side elevation of a machine equipped withthe supplemental frame when in position to start the sumping cut.

F ig. 5 is a similar view, showing the parts in the position which they assume during the transverse out.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 4, this figure also showing the feeding mechanism omittedv inv Figs. 1, 4, and 5.

Fig. 7 is a similar plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 5.

In the illustrative construction, I have shown a mining machine 1 of the continuous cutter type, which, as is well known, is adapted to be propelled by its own power longitudinally into the coal during the sumping or starting cut and then across the face of the coal to undercut the face, the power being derived from a motor on the machine and conveyed both to the cutting mechanism or chain, and to flexible feeding mechanism in the form of a single flexible feeding memoer or a plurality of the same. In this illustrative construction, the device is shown as applied to a machine of the type using a single flexible feeding member, but it is to be understood that the device isequally well adapted to use with a machine employing a plurality of such feeding members.

As in the usual construction of machines of this type, the machine 1 is slidable on its bottom, which may assume any desired form and herein is shown in the form of a bottom plate 2. The machine is, as usual, also pro vided with a cutter bar 3 preferably rigidly connected to and projecting from the front end thereof, a cutter chain 4 moving around this cutter. bar to undercut the coal as the cutter bar is moved into the coal, suitable power connections of well known construction being provided between the motor on the machine 1 and the cutter chain. As in the usual construction, suitable power connections are also provided between the motor and a feeding member or sprocket 5 engageabl'e with the flexible feeding member 6, herein shown as a feed chain, so that when one end of this feed chain is connected to a jack 7 at the face of the coal and the motor is set in motion, the machine 1 may be moved longitudinally forward to project the cutterbar under the coal, and so that after the sumping out has been made and the feedchain is connected between supports 8 and 9, asshown in Fig. 7, the machine 1 may be moved bodily along the face to undercut the coal.

In my improved construction, I have provided a supplemental supporting frame or sumping frame comprising longitudinally extending side members 10, preferably in end of the frame is also the form of chain guards as shown herein, and connected at their front ends by abottom plate 11 and at their rear ends by a lower bottom plate 12. This frame is slidably mounted on the cutter bar 3 of the machine and on the machine frame. As shown, it is provided with an upstanding bracket 13 carried on the upper surface of its bottom plate 11 and adapted to underlie the cutter bar, a guide member 1 1 being carried on the upper face of this bracket and adapt ed to move in a longitudinally disposed slot 15 in the bottom of the bar. As illustrated, it is also provided with an upper brace member 16 adapted to engage the front of the'machine and thereby limit the forward movement of the machine relative to the sumping pan, and also carrying a depending member 17 adapted to rest against the up per surface of the bar. As shown, the rear provided with inner longitudinally disposed guides 18 adapted to be received in correspondingly disposed grooves 1.9 formed on the sides of the machine. Attention is also directed to the fact that at each side of the frame and at the front end thereof, a bracket 20 is provided, having a suitable longitudinal slot 21. therein adapted to receive one of a pair of oppositely disposed hooks 22 formed on a laterally extending bracket or clevis member 23 which preferably carries an upstanding sheave 24. Obviously, since this clevis member 23 is provided with a plurality of hooks 22 and a plurality of brackets 20 is provided, the clevis member 23 may be. adjusted to either side of the frame, as desired. Attention is also directed to the fact that I have here also shown'an automatically acting pivoted lock or latch 25 of usual construction on the front end of the machine, normally held out by the guards 10, and adapted to drop in back of the guards 10 when the supplemental frame is in sumping position, so that the latter may be automatically locked in position. It should here, however, be understood that the relative location of these elements may be reversed if desired. In order to limit the forward. movement of the supplemental frame, it will also be noted that means may be provided on either the machine or the cutter bar to act as a stop for the frame. These means are shown herein as including a stop or pin 26 carried by the cutter bar and engageable with the front of the members 17 on the supplemental frame.

Before the first sumping operation, the frame is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 6. with its front end in engagement with the stop 26. If the cut is to be from right to left, for instance, the clevis 20 is then connected at the left hand side of the machine and the feed chain 6 is extended in the position shown in that figure, pass- I usual shifting of the mg over the bracket and at the inner side of the sheave 2a and having its front end connected to the face at 7. Obviously, when the motor is started and the latch 25 is held out, the machine will thus be fed forward, its bottom plate 2 resting on and sliding over the bottom plate 12 of the 'sumping frame while its cutter bar 3 is supported by and slidable over the front plate 11 and guided by the guiding surfaces 13, 141, 17 thereon and on the front of the frame. 0 viously, through the action of the sheave 2 1 and the chain 6, the machine will. con tinue to move in a rectilinear path until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 5, wherein the sumping cut is completed and wherein it will be noted that due to the fact that the shoe 11 is lower than its fellow 12, the rear end of the machine is higher from the floor than the shoe 11, so that the bar is inclined relative to the bottom'at the desired angle'for the cut across the face and plate or shoe 12 is so positioned as to perform the function of the separate shoe ordinarily provided to elevate the rear end of the ma-- chine and to facilitate movement of the machine over the bottom during transverse cutting. During this last out, for which the chain 6 18 connected as shown in Fig. 7 the machine will move laterally in its usual manner with its weight, however, resting entirely upon the: bottom plates 11 and 12, and the machine bottom plate 2 then extending downward to, substantially flush with the shoe 11 in such a manner as to prevent any digging up of the bottom. Obviously, due to the fact that the machine has. its weight carried by, and slides over, the bottom. plates 11 and 12 on the supplemental frame, when the machine is withdrawn from the face, as after the completion of the transverse out, it will slide rearwardly on the supplemental frame until the latter automatically assumes the position relative to the machine shown inFig. a, whereupon the lock or latch 5 drops automatically into place in such a manner as-tohold the frame in that position during the movement of the machine onto its truck or from the latter when in the next room. Thus, after unloading the machine in anew room, the only steps required to prepare the same for the next sumping operation, are to throw out the lock or latch 25, and connect up the feed chain. Thus, it will be noted, all manual pulling out of the frame is rendered entirely unnecessary, and the parts are automatically moved into and locked in position, the operator, other than the chain, only having to release the latch at the beginning of the sumping operation.

It will be noted that in my improved com struction the machine is thus caused to move during the sumping cut over smooth metallic surfaces rather than the irregular surface of the mine bottom, so that the power required during the sumping cut is materially reduced. Attention is also directed to the fact that the sides of the frame, which during the sumping cut enclose the inner end of the cutter chain, act to prevent injury to the runner during the sumping out. By automatically bringing the cutter bar into the desired tilted relation at the completion of the sumping cut, it will also be noted that it is entirely unnecessary to delay the machine, either before or after the sumping cut, while it is jacked up and a shoe is inserted beneath the same, as

has been the practice heretofore. Attention is also directed to the fact that in my improved construction wherein the supplemental frame or pan is disposed beneath the machine bottom, it is unnecessary to use jacks or other means to hold the supple mental frame in position, and that an eX- ceedingly rigid device is thus produced which forms a part of the machine and lends itself readily to the rough usage to which such machines are of necessity subjected. It should also be noted that the entire cost of the device is very small, and that the same is readily adapted to use on machines of standard construction already in the field. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it is to be understood that the form herein used is used only for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit, it being my intention to include all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. In a mining machine which is freely and universally slidable over the floor during operation, the combination of a main frame, a cutter bar projecting forward therefrom, and a supplemental frame nor-- mally supported on and movable over the floor, and having a transverse bar underlying the main frame, a transverse bar underlying the cutter bar at points in front of the main frame and longitudinal bars rigidly connecting the said transversebars, said supplemental frame supporting the main frame and the cutter bar during the sumping operation, and permitting them to slide upon it as they are moved forward.

2. In a mining machine which is freely and universally slidable over the floor while in operation and adapted both to making sumping cut and also to cut laterally on lines along the face, the combination of a main frame, a cutter bar projecting forward therefrom, a supplemental frame universally slidable over the floor and underlying both said main frame and said cutter bar, both at the beginning and at the end of a sumping cut and having devices which slidably engage directly with and support said cutter bar as the main frame moves toward the front end of said supplemental frame.

3. In a mining machine which is freely and universally slidable over the floor while in operation and adapted to both make a sumping cut and also to cut laterally along the face, the combination of a main frame, a cutter bar projecting forward therefrom, and a supplemental frame supported on and freely movable over the floor, and having a transverse bar slidably engageable with the cutter bar, and a transverse bar disposed beneath the bottom of the main frame during both the sumping cut and the lateral cut.

4:. In a mining machine which is universally and freely slidable over the floor and is adapted both to make a sumping cut and also to cut laterally along the face, the combination of a main frame, a cutter bar projecting forward therefrom, a cutter chain supported on said bar, and a supplemental frame supported on and movable over the ground surface and slidable engaging with and supporting both the bottom of the main frame and the cutter bar at points in front of the main frame and having longitudinally disposed connecting bars arranged to also act as guards at the sides of the cutter chain.

5. In a mining machine having a bottom plate whereon it is universally and freely slidable oy'er the floor and is adapted both to make a sumping cut and also to cut laterally along the face, the combination of a main frame, a motor and gearing on said frame, a cutter bar projecting forward therefrom and a supplemental frame supported on and movable over the floor, and having a rear bottom plate and a front bottom plate underlying and slidably engaging with the cutter bar at points in front of the main frame.

6. A sumping frame for a mining machine having a main frame and a forward projecting rigid cutter bar, said sumping frame comprising a front bottom plate slidable over the mine floor and carrying means slidably engageable with the cutter bar at points in front of the main frame, said sumping frame having rearwardly extending guard members and a bottom plate in rear of said first mentioned bot-tom plate slidably engageab'le with the bottom of the main frame.

' 7. A sumpingframe for a mining machine having a main frame freely and universally loo slidable over the floor and a forward projecting cutter bar, said sumping frame com prising a front bottom plate slidable over the 'mine floor and carrying means slidably engageable with the cutter bar at points in front of the main frame, said sumping frame having rearwardly extending guard memhers and a lower bottom plate in rear of said first mentioned bottom plate and slidably engagable with the bottom of the main frame.

8. A sumping frame for a mining machine having a main frame resting upon and freely movable over a mine floor and a forward projecting rigid cutter bar, said sumping frame comprising a front bottom plate slidable over the mine floor and carrying means slidably engageable with the cutter bar at points in front of the main frame, said sumping frame having rearwardly extending guard members slidably engagable with the main frame and a bottom plate in rear of said first mentioned bottom. plate and slidably engaga-ble with the bottom of the main frame.

9. In a mining machine which is freely and universally slidable over the floor during operation, the combination of a main frame, a cutter bar projecting forward therefrom, and a supplemental frame supported on and movable over the floor and slidably connected to the cutter bar at points in front of the main frame and having an element underlying the bottom of the main frame at the beginning of a sumping cut and upon which the machine slides during the sumping operation.

10. In a mining machine which is freely and universally slidable over'the floor during operation, the combination of a main frame, a cutter bar projecting forward therefrom, and a supplemental frame loosely but operatively connected to said main frame and cutter bar and normally positioned beneath the bottom of the main frame during the lateral cut, and relative to which the main frame and cutter bar are reciprocable when being withdrawn'from the coal face.

11. In a mining machine which is freely and universally slidable over the floor while in operation, and adapted both to make a sumping cut and, also to cut laterally on lines along the face while resting on the floor, the combination of a main frame, a cutter bar projecting forward therefrom, a supplemental frame normally resting upon and movable over the floor and loosely connected to said main frame and cutter bar and positioned beneath the bottom of the main frame during the sumping cut, and relative to which the main frame and cutter bar are reciprocable when being withdrawn from the face, and. means for locking the parts in their extended position.

I nae'znea 12. In a mining machine of the class de-- scribed, the combination of the main frame having a bottom shoe plate whereon the frame can slide freely universally, the forward projecting cutter bar, said frame and bar being adapted to have the bar advanced longitudinally into the coal and to be then fed laterally along the face, and a supple mental supporting frame resting on and movable freely over the bottom when the machine is in operation and slidably connected to the cutter bar, and having a bottom plate underlying said bar and positioned to be substantially flush with the front end of the shoe plate on the main frame when the sumping cut is completed, and a second bottom plate positioned beneath the rear end of the shoe plate on the frame at the time when the sumping cut is completed.

13. In a mining machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame having a bottom shoe plate whereon it slides freely over the floor, a cutter bar projecting forward from said frame, a cutter chain carried by said bar, and a supplemental frame having a bottom plate resting on the ground and disposed beneath said bar at points in front of the main frame, a second bottom plate positioned beneath said main frame, longitudinally extending chain guard bars rigidly connected to said plates, guiding means for the cutter bar carried by said first bottom plate, and guiding means for said supplemental frame positioned beneath said guard bars and the main frame.

14:. In a mining machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame having a bottom plate whereon it slides freely over the floor, a cutter bar projecting forward fromsaid frame, a cutter chain carried by said bar, and a supplemental frame having transverse parts positioned beneath said bar and beneath said main frame and slidably connected to said bar and frame and over which both the bar and the frame move during the sumping cut, feeding mechanism on the main frame, a flexible feeding member connected thereto and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal lines of the cutter bar to a fixed point adjacent to. the face, and means adjacent the front end of said supplemental frame slidably connecting the latter to said flexible feeding member.

15. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar, and means controlled by movement thereof for tilting said bar.

16. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar thereon, and means effective upon longitudinal movement thanof for elevating the rear end of the same.

17. In a mining machine, a machine frame havinga cutter bar thereon, and means ef fective upon movement of said frame to tilt the same into transverse cutting position.

18. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar thereon, and automatically acting means for tilting said frame during the sumping operation.

19. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar thereon, and automatically acting means for inserting a shoe beneath said frame during the sumping operation thereof.

20. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar thereon, and combined means associated with said frame for guiding the same and elevating its rear end during the sumping operation.

21. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar thereon, and a supple mentary frame slidably connected therewith and having a tilting plate disposed beneath said frame.

22. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar thereon, and means including a sumping frame telescopically connected to said frame for elevating the rear end of the same preparatory to the transverse cut.

23. In a mining machine, amachine frame having a cutter bar thereon, and a. sumping frame slidably connected therewith and having a front member disposable substantially flush with the front end of the bottom of said frame and a rear member disposable beneath the rear end of the latter.

24:. In a mining machine, amachine frame having a cutter bar thereon, and a sumping frame slidably connected therewith and having a tilting plate automatically disposed beneath the rear end of said frame during the sumping cut.

25. I11 amining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar thereon, a sumping frame slidably connected to said bar and telescopically connected to said frame hav ing a tilting plate disposed in tilting position beneath said frame during the sumping cut.

26. In a mining machine, amachine frame having a cutter bar thereon, a sumping frame slidably connected therewith and hav ing a supporting and tilting plate disposed beneath said frame, and means for moving said machine frame relative to said sumping frame.

27. In a mining machine, amachine frame having a cutter bar thereon, a sumping frame slidably connected to said bar and telescopically connected to said machine frame, and means whereby the rear end of said machine frame is elevated as the same is moved forward relative to said sump ing frame.

28. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar thereon and a shoe, and a sumping frame slidably connected to said frame and bar and having means for underlying both ends .and elevating the rear end of said machine frame as the latter is sumped forward into the same;

29. In a. mining machine, amachine frame having a cutter bar thereon and a shoe, a sumping frame slidably connected to said bar and telescopically connected to said machine frame having means whereby the rear end of said machine frame is elevated as the same is moved longitudinally of said sumping frame.

30. In a mining machine, amachine frame having a cutter bar thereon and a shoe, and a sumping frame operatively connected thereto and having front and rear bottom plates, one of said plates. being adapted to be disposed substantially in the plane of said shoe and the other in a plane parallel thereto.

31. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar thereon and a shoe, and a sumping frame operatively connected thereto and having front and rear bottom plates, one of said plates being adapted to be disposed substantially in the plane of said shoe and the other beneath the rear end thereof.

32. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a cutter bar thereon, a sumping frame slidably supporting said bar and having tilting means disposed beneath said frame, and means including a flexible feeding member for moving said machine frame relative to said sumping frame.

33. In a mining machine, amachine frame having a cutter bar thereon, a sump-ing frame slidably connected to said frame and having tilting means disposed beneath the same, a guiding member on said sumping frame, and means including a flexible feeding member engageable therewith for moving said machine frame longitudinally of said sumping frame or transversely therewith.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JACOB M. LONDON. 

